Are there no risks to public safety?
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constables has reported that police authorities, which control police budgets, are facing an "unprecedented challenge" in the forthcoming spending cuts.
Devon and Somerset Chief Constable Stephen Otter he plans to cut 700 of 3,500 officers and 300 from its 2,200 support staff through retirements and a recruitment freeze. Already more than 300 civilian posts have been lost over the past 18 months."
Devon and Cornwall police say this four-year plan to cut 1,000 jobs and save £40 million will not risk public safety.
The chairman of Devon and Cornwall police authority, Mike Bull says he is "determined to protect visibility of policing in communities and make sure people feel protected".
Nigel Rabbitts, Chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, said: "We cannot see how operational efficiency, operational resilience and, in the long term, financial savings, will be met by such a drastic reduction in police officers.”
He claimed that 73 per cent of civilian staff provide frontline services in the force, including crime scene investigations, station inquires and call handing.
"It won't result in a better service for communities, is not what the public wants and it doesn't make sense. The ability to respond to dynamic incidents will be damaged by a lack of mobility of staff."
He also said that because the force covers such a large geographical area the loss of 700 officers would create "massive managerial challenges".
Greater Manchester Chief Constable Peter Fahy believes the problems imposed by cuts have been further compounded for example, a review of pensions and of pay and conditions
Police authorities are to be replaced by Directly Elected Police and Crime Commissioners.
There are also a lot of question marks about how it will operate in practice. Ministers have said that commissioners will not get involved with operational independence.
